Charlotte streetcar starter line breaks ground

The Charlotte Streetcar Starter Project in North Carolina has begun and the first phase of a planned 10-mile streetcar line that will expand transit options, spur economic development and improve access to jobs, education and medical facilities.

"The streetcar project moves Charlotte a step closer to building a truly connected transit system that will enable commuters, students and visitors to travel seamlessly in and out of downtown," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The initial 1.5-mile section of the Charlotte Streetcar line will include six stops along an east-west transit corridor that is intended to make it easy for passengers to catch either a local transit bus or board the LYNX light-rail service heading north and south from the Charlotte Transportation Center, where all these services intersect.

The project is funded with $25 million from the Federal Transit Administration's Urban Circulator Grant Program. The total project cost is $37 million, with the city of Charlotte contributing $12 million.